The statements that help to explain the rising cost of higher education are:
- State subsidies for public institutions have been reduced.
- Increased administrative and maintenance costs.
- Increased spending on student services including counseling and academic programs.
The statement about larger government grants making higher education less affordable is misleading, as grants are generally intended to make education more accessible and affordable. The statement about government funding of public institutions having doubled contradicts the notion of rising costs if it were true, as increased funding could potentially alleviate some financial burdens.